TNT’s exclusive coverage of NBA All-Star 2012 continues on Saturday, February 25 at 8:30 p.m. (ET), with NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm, which includes the Haier Shooting Stars, the Taco Bell Skills Challenge, the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest, and the Sprite Slam Dunk. TNT’s coverage of the 2012 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, February 26 begins at 7:30 p.m. (ET).
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BBVA Rising Stars Challenge – Team Chuck (146), Team Shaq (133)
Kevin Harlan and Kenny Smith with Craig Sager reporting
Smith comments on Detroit Pistons sophomore Greg Monroe: “I like Greg Monroe. He’s a guy who has improved. He can shoot that mid-range jump shot and for most bigs [players], that air is rare out there.”
Smith comments on Indiana Pacers sophomore Paul George: “He was undervalued during the draft and slipped a little bit further than I thought he would. He has an array of skill sets and a tremendous upside.”
Smith comments on Utah Jazz sophomore Gordon Hayward: “He’s one of my favorite young players right now. If there are four guys who are going to play on Sunday night [in the All-Star Game] someday…he’s one of them.”
Smith comments on New Jersey Nets rookie MarShon Brooks: “MarShon Brooks is a guy that a lot of people haven’t seen with the Nets. He’s a guy that gets buckets. Give him the basketball and he’ll score.”
Smith comments on the Charlotte Bobcats: “The Charlotte Bobcats are struggling and in a shortened season, they got discouraged early. When you don’t give NBA players a light at the end of the tunnel, they can turn the light off. That’s what happened in Charlotte.”
Smith comments on Washington Wizards sophomore John Wall: “If John Wall develops a 15-foot jump shot, he’ll be an NBA All-Star.”
Smith on Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Kyrie Irving: “You have to love what Kyrie already knows…how to be aggressive offensively but still be a great passer.”
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T-Mobile Halftime Report
Ernie Johnson and Chris Webber
Webber comments on TNT analyst Reggie Miller being named on the Hall of Fame ballot: : “[As] a guy that had to compete against him, chasing him off of screens and then seeing the guards of today…[Miller] is one of the best shooters the game has ever seen.”
Webber comments on competing in the All-Star Game for the first time: “You don’t know how to handle it. At first, you’re nervous. Then you get into it and you hope your first shot isn’t an airball. Then you want a dunk or an easy layup to forget that it’s an All-Star Game. You just want to have fun.”
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Smith comments on how players perform in All-Star Games: “I’m always interested to see who is going to be a star among stars.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed New York Knicks sophomore Jeremy Lin during the second half:
Lin comments on how he feels after playing significantly more minutes in recent weeks: “In terms of my body, the last two, three weeks have been tough on my body. This is the perfect opportunity this weekend to really rest. I’m looking forward to it.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Cavaliers rookie and BBVA Rising Stars Challenge MVP Kyrie Irving following the game:
Irving comments on whether the Cavaliers will continue their surprising play in the second half of the season: “It’s still a long season. Teams will be ready for me and my teammates. We’ll see how it goes. We’ve surprised some people in the East [Conference] and the country and it feels good.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai live from the Amway Center in Orlando
Johnson, Barkley, O’Neal and Webber
Barkley comments on Kings sophomore DeMarcus Cousins: “The guy that could be the most talented player on the court [tonight] is DeMarcus Cousins. If he could get himself motivated and get into great shape…he could be the best big man in the NBA. He’s got special skills.”
Barkley comments on Reggie Miller’s Hall of Fame nomination: “Reggie deserves to be in the Hall of Fame…I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t get in.”
O’Neal comments on his playing days in Orlando: “It was great playing here. I learned a lot. When I went to the Finals [in 1995], it was a learning experience. Like Dwight Howard, when I came to the [Magic], the leadership was thrust on me. I had to be a leader right away. I had to bring the team together and learn how to win.”
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